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A healthy credit score has its benefits, so make sure you manage your debt correctly.
Discover the best travel insurance policy for your next trip.
Find current accounts offering in-credit interest rates up to 5.00% AER.
Explore the best cards with a 0% introductory period.
Could the value of your state pension rise by more than inflation?
Will your loved one's gift be tax affected?
Looking for inflation beating returns? Investing in shares could be an option.
Meanwhile, the Financial Conduct Authority launches a new campaign, encouraging savers to switch.
The UK’s big five high street banks still fail to offer competitive rates on some of their easy access savings accounts, according to recent analysis using the Moneyfacts Consumer Duty Audit Tool for Savings.
This is despite continued scrutiny over whether providers passed on last year’s Bank of England base rate rises to savers.
When the analysis was conducted, the accounts in question all paid less than 2.00% gross and sat in the bottom quartiles of the market. By contrast, the average easy access rate currently sits at 3.18% with many of the top easy access savings accounts paying over 5.00%.
“The Financial Conduct Authority’s regulations around Consumer Duty directed financial services institutions to offer fair value, and the big banks are still failing in some areas to meet those expectations,” explained James Hyde, Spokesperson for Moneyfacts.
“With new rules regarding closed accounts coming into effect this summer, it remains to be seen if there is more urgency to improve rates going forward,” Hyde added.
This analysis coincides with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recently launching a new campaign, which encourages savers to shop around for better savings rates.
While many providers increased returns on their savings accounts in response to consecutive base rate hikes last year, with average rates now sitting significantly higher than a year ago, the big banks are falling behind.
Of the big five, HSBC’s Flexible Saver currently offers the highest easy access rate but pays only 1.98%.
Meanwhile, Santander slashed the rate paid by its Easy Access Saver from 2.50% to 1.70% in recent months.
This particular account “sits alongside the equivalent products from Barclays, HSBC and NatWest, towards the bottom of the third quartile”, revealed Hyde.
As for Lloyds Bank, its Easy Saver occupies the bottom tier, paying just 1.40%.
Big banks’ easy access selection | ||
Provider | Account | Gross rate at £10,000 |
Barclays Bank | Everyday Saver | 1.65% |
HSBC | Flexible Saver | 1.98% |
Lloyds Bank | Easy Saver | 1.40% |
NatWest | Flexible Saver | 1.74% |
Santander | Easy Access Saver | 1.70%* |
Data correct as of 12 February 2024. Deals available to new customers and includes accounts that allow multiple withdrawals without penalty. *Reverts into Everyday Saver after 12 months, which currently pays 1.20%.
The picture looked slightly better for fixed rate bonds, with all five banks offering a deal in the top quartile of the market back in November 2023.
However, Barclays Bank is now the only one of these providers to remain in the top quartile as the other banks’ offerings have failed to keep up with the competition.
As part of its recently launched campaign, the FCA said only half (52%) of savers had switched or were considering switching their savings account.
“We know that people can be put off switching for a variety of reasons, but they could be making their money work harder,” commented Sheldon Mills, Executive Director of Consumers and Competition at the FCA.
“There are some great rates out there and it could take as little as five minutes to find a better deal,” he continued.
Using data from Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, the FCA noted more than 300 easy access accounts offered rates in excess of 3.00% as of 19 February 2024, while 170 paid over 4.00% and 37 had rates above 5.00%.
Our savings charts are regularly updated so you can see the best savings rates available, whether you’re looking for an easy access account, a fixed-rate bond or a notice account. Similarly, you can also use our ISA charts to check out the top easy access and fixed ISA rates.
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Information is correct as of the date of publication (shown at the top of this article). Any products featured may be withdrawn by their provider or changed at any time. Links to third parties on this page are paid for by the third party. You can find out more about the individual products by visiting their site. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk will receive a small payment if you use their services after you click through to their site. All information is subject to change without notice. Please check all terms before making any decisions. This information is intended solely to provide guidance and is not financial advice. Moneyfacts will not be liable for any loss arising from your use or reliance on this information. If you are in any doubt, Moneyfacts recommends you obtain independent financial advice.
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Each week the Moneyfactscompare.co.uk content team round up and discuss the very best ISA rates available in the UK. Compare and apply today.
Changes in the easy access ISA market see Zopa take a top-three position.
Each week the Moneyfactscompare.co.uk content team round up and discuss the very best savings rates available in the UK. Compare and apply today.
Leading rates for one-year fixed bonds now match top easy access rates.
The latest latest decision comes as average mortgage rates continue to rise steadily.
This latest latest decision comes as average mortgage rates continue to rise steadily.
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